Sewage tanker strike called off, OMR relieved

TNN | Updated: Dec 11, 2018, 7:18 IST

This photograph, taken on December 4, shows trucks that clean septic tanks lined up along the Pallikaranai mar...Read More

CHENNAI: As long as a permanent network for water supply and sewage disposal evades OMR, its residents will be at the mercy of the cartel that thrives off it - this is the bitter lesson that residents along the IT corridor have learned as normalcy returned after sewage tankers called off their strike. The strike ended on Sunday evening following political intervention that also capped the new treatment charges for tankers at sewage treatment plants at 150. Even though the charges on tanker operators were hiked to Rs 150 from the existing Rs 100, lorry operators used the opportunity to loot residents along the expressway by charging them up to 200 more for getting sewage cleared. Desperate and helpless residents were more than relieved that the strike was over and shelled out the hiked rates without any ado. "Even when he asked for 200 more, I was willing to pay. I need to get the septic tank cleaned," said K R Surendran, a resident of Anand Nagar in Thoraipakkam. Residents in Sholinganallur said they were being asked to pay up 50 to 100 more by tanker operators. "I will have to pay 1,000 for getting sewage cleared. Earlier I used to pay 800," said a resident. "Some politicians intervened because of which the charges were raised to 150 and not 250. But we want the timings for disposing sewage at the plants to be relaxed. The timing restriction on plying of tankers during peak hours affects our business. I hope that our demand on relaxing timings is also met," said D Dayalan of the Septic Tanker Owners Association.

A Metrowater official said "armtwisting tactics" by tanker owners were unwarranted. "Because of requests from political leaders we have considered keeping treatment charges at 150 per load," said the official. An official from Sholinganallur zone said the water supply project in Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones was expected to be handed over by March, while the sewerage supply system will take more time to be completed as pipe-laying was still in the way. Chief engineer, projects, V Raviraj, was not available for a comment.